Ancestral Photographs of Upstate New York

Tangled Roots and Twisted Branches

TRAPHAGEN

The following information is taken from my grandmother's book, "Tangled Roots and Twisted Branches" (published 1987), with some minor reformatting for the web. This book is known to contain some errors. If you have any corrections or additions, please contact me.

WILLIAM JANSEN TRAPHAGEN (Van Lenge) settled in this country at Bushwick, Long Island about 1660. He built one of the first houses at Bushwick. He was the son of JOHANNES TRAPHAGEN, Doctor of Medicine; Officer of the House at Homelych at Bishoprich of Minnen under the Dulce of Van der Lip; born in Leunicher. He (William Jansen Traphagen) was banished from Bushwick by the authorities to Wiltwyck (Kingston) 12 May 1664 for carrying a disrespectful letter to the Authorities for another man. He made a statement clearing his name. His punishment, before being banished, was to be tied to a stake with a paper on his breast saying "Lampoon CARRIER" [see Dutch MSS Albany X:216]
On 15 April 1676 William Traphagen recieved a grant of 20 acres by the Court at Kingston (Land Papers pg 24). On 2 October 1676 he was granted a piece of land by Governor Andries - located northeast of Captain T. Chambers - a farm of about 10 acres; also a piece of land of about 10 acres north and south along the great Creek or Kill to the Water Kelch (Ibid. P 90-91)
William Traphagen married:

I: in Brooklyn Dutch Reformed Church to Jannetje Claes Groenvis

II: in New Amsterdam to Aeltje Dirck Meermen of Steenwyck

III: 15 January 1661 to Jessie Willems Neetryck of Amsterdam, widow of Jan Verkenden

WILL of William Jansen Traphagen dated 16 February 1685 Kingston:

My soul to God Almighty - To my three sons: namely Johannes, William, and Henry - all my land which I presently enjoy with all my houses, barns; also three horses with plow, wagon and other implements - with previse that the three sons shall work upon the land and likewise to maintain me and my wife, Jessie, as long as both or either shall live. My eldest son, Johannes - 50 gilders; my eldest daughter, Helena, wife of JAN BURHANS - 50 gilders; it being alloted to them before I married my last wife, Jessie. The rest of my estate, whether it be horses, cows, hogs, either young or old, or household stuff, shall be equally divided among my 3 sons and 2 daughters - to wit - Helena, married to Jan Burhans of Kingston; Rebecca, who is married to Pieter Pietersen (Ostrander) - Hurley.
His son, William, went to Rhinebeck. He helped Judge Beekman erect mills and develop the land. A DEED - a large tract of land called the FLATTS. In 1709 he built a stone house that served as a Tavern. He also had a Blacksmith shop and mill at what is now West Market Street. He was a founder of the BEEKMAN ARMS and sold it to Henry Beekman in 1726. (HIST. RHINEBECK: pg 25)
The line continues through the daughter HELENA, born at Bushwick, by his first wife. She married in the Kingston Dutch Reformed Church to JAN BURHANS (son of Jacob Burhans).

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